Bean and Fennel Soup

 Ingredients: For 2 servings: 1 fennel 100 g seeds* salt, fennel seeds, pepper, and chili

To prepare a delicious bean soup, we will start by boiling the beans. Make sure the beans you use are shelled, dried, and slightly broken, so they cook evenly. Place the beans in a large pot, covering them with water that exceeds their level by 4-5 cm. Turn on the stove and bring the water to a boil. When the water is boiling, reduce the flame to allow for a gentle simmer. It is important that the soup does not boil vigorously but simmers gently until the beans become soft. You can check their consistency by stirring with a wooden spoon; if the beans mash easily, they are ready.

After the beans have boiled, add salt to taste. Prepare the fennel by washing it well and cleaning both the top and the hard part (the core) from the bottom. Cut the fennel into thin strips and set aside half a tablespoon of chopped fennel to add at the end. Also, add chili pepper, depending on how spicy you want your soup, then complete with water, adjusting the amount according to your preferences for a thicker or thinner soup. Let the mixture simmer for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.

After 30 minutes, add ground pepper to enhance the flavor of the soup. The soup is now almost ready, and for serving, you can opt for various garnishes. Give it an extra flavor by pairing it with grilled polenta, pasta, rice, or grains. If you choose rice, pasta, or grains, make sure to boil them separately in a different pot. Add them to the soup 5-10 minutes before finishing cooking, depending on their type. For example, homemade noodles only need 1-3 minutes, while rice will require 15-17 minutes, depending on the type of rice used.

Don’t forget to add the remaining finely chopped fennel to the soup before serving. Also, for a special final taste, serve the soup with a drizzle of raw olive oil directly in the bowl. The original recipe does not include fats, but the oil can add a refined and healthy note to your dish. Thus, you will achieve a fragrant and comforting bean soup, perfect for colder days or to impress guests with a tasty and nutritious dish. Enjoy every spoonful!

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